Laranah Phipps Ray & La Funkalicious play by their own rules on their new album Game Changer — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The New Jersey vocalist, songwriter, and producer and her band aim to unite people with their latest release. Produced by Kym Miller of the band Instant Funk, Game Changer evokes the cosmic jazz flares of Sun Ra, the groovy riffs of Nile Rogers, and vocals straight from the golden soul-jazz era.
One standout track from the album is Stand Together. Written by Laranah, the song features a stunning horn intro arranged by Arnetta Johnson, funky bass licks by Tom Littwin, and Laranah’s silky vocals which lead into the song’s call to action:
“If we stand together
We’ll all be so much better
Stand together
We can build a better world.”
Stand Together is described as a rhythmic, melodic, and inter-dimensional anthem. Interdimensional is a worthy descriptor of this song’s out-of-this-world sound that exemplifies La Funkalicious‘ Afro-futurism.
Another notable track is the personal Connie’s Blues, written by Laranah and Daryl Robinson. The album version starts off with a 60-second keyboard intro that evokes starlight and messages sent into outer space, before drums, a bass groove, and vocals launch the song proper.
“Connie’s blues, Connie’s blues
Everybody’s buzzin ’bout Connie’s blues
Win or Lose
There’s no use
You mess around with Connie
You’ll be yesterday’s instant news
Come and get me (bail me out)
Take me home (don’t make a fuss)
I’ve had enough.”
Laranah says Connie’s Blues was written for her mother, who was murdered when Laranah was a teen. The song discusses how turbulent a strong independent woman’s life could be and how her mother’s strength uplifts and inspires her.
Phipps Ray was born into music royalty: The Phipps Family, Newark’s first family of jazz. She is the daughter of pioneering saxophonist Gene Phipps Sr. She recently collaborated with trumpeter Michael Ray and saxophonist Marshall Allen of the Sun Ra Arkestra on the single Mayan Temple, Kym Miller of Instant Funk on COVID-19, and Kevin Hearn of Barenaked Ladies on Hello Hello (One World).
Listen to Game Changer below and keep up with Laranah Phipps Ray & La Funkalicious at their website, Facebook and Twitter.
